The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-03-26
4 Newspaper Bohemian.
BY FANNIE MAY TROUSDALE.
CHAPTER TX.
lg1sP to this time Stephanie had
|SS met with few uupleasantnesses
~ and no difficulties in her trav-
CHAPTER TX.

mOQatlUE cODOOctOrS, pOlIte anu Ouse'
quious hotel clerks, and o'liging edi-
tors, who were never too busy 10 do
her service. There WAS really danger
OF her becoming somewhat spoiled by
so much attention if she had been at all
weak minded or vain. As 1t was, they
succeeded only in making her very
grateful and her pathway most pleas
ant and howery.
But as she left South Carolina be.
hind her, she began to fiud thorns
among the flowers, and she had need
of all her fortitude and self reliance, to
keep her from taking the first train
homewerd. But she was no coward,
and as she considered how much her
labor was contributing toward the
comfort of those at home, she possessed
her soul with patience aud persever-
ance and kept her face turned staunchly
the other way.
No longer did the old-time darkey
step out into the street to give her the
side walk, as if it were pleasure to
him; no longer did the school boy
touch his bat as he passed her; nor the
man of business put down for the South
because too polite to say no.
She Was back in the land OF the people
who chew their own tobacco, and who
interest themselves not in anyone who
has the misfortune not TO have been
born tar heel.
1t was the darkest hour, just before
dawn on Chill and misting morning,
on this northward journey, that Ste-
phanie was awakened from an uncom-
Portable nap on the car seat by the cry
of "Whiteville
The conductor was handing her hur-
rIedIy eff the train before she could
gather her wits.
"I thought it was daylight when we
reached here" she exclaimed in con-
sternation.
"Change of schedule, Miss" he re-
piled as he swung himself aboard, and
in another moment Stephanie found
herself alone in the misty darkness
watching the only palpable connecting
link between herself and humanity
flash out of sight with Il whirr that
awoke thousand echoes.
She looked about her. The still was
intense and the Loneliness almost ap-
pailing. No living thing was in sight.
The great rambling depot loomed up
dssk'. q. her right, silent as the grave.
Truly this was dilemma.
With an instinct of fear, she slipped
her hand into the satchel strapped at
her side, aud the touch OF the smooth
cold barrels of IA new, untried Smith
and Wesson gave her courage. But
where was there any thing to shoot?
She could not refrain from smiling
as she faced that fact.
AS her eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness, she discerned, some little
distance away, the outline of house.
1t might be lodging house for un'
lucky travellers like herself. AT all
hazards she saw that it was her only
chance. But the valise? 1t would moi
do to leave it, it was new Russis
leather one, and contained all her mod
est wardrobe. 1t was pretty heavy
burden for unaccustomed arms, anC
she made slow progress with it, bu
luckily the distance was not great.
She entered the half hung gate. =
horse fastened to a tree just within
gave low Whitney. S!ephanie pattet
his neck, and was grateful for eveI
this rude welcome.
She raped smartly at the door, ant
stood on the defensive with quick beai
ing heart.
After some little delay, it was eau
! tiously opened wide enough to admi
: the much disheveiled head of mar
els this lodging house, sir? l at
lust in on the train. / beard there wa
r one near BY"
@ He shook his head, in open mouthe
y amszament, rs he made out the slende
u womanly figuIe. Then he got his poe
Q wits together, enough to grasp the 81
y uation.
g uNo this aint no lodging house.
d l,aIkerla,e YOU can git in at Mi